The south Houston area is loaded with talented athletes who give it their all in their respective fields of play.
Welcome to the VYPE Playmakers powered by UTMB Health, where we’re highlighting five standouts from the previous week who stole the headlines.
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as the Fall season continues to heat up.
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Alison Figueroa -- Clear Creek Volleyball
Alex Hinson (VYPE)
Although Clear Creek faced some tough sledding to begin their district schedule -- falling to both Dickinson and Deer Park -- they're now back on the right track with their recent 3-1 win over Clear Falls.
It's natural for a program to experience some ups and downs when under new leadership. However, the Wildcats (18-13) are a model of consistency, and that's still unlikely to change with coach Scott Simonds at the helm.
After all, there's way too much talent on this roster to indicate that the playoffs won't be in their future.
We've touched on the threat that senior Olivia Jones poses from the outside hitter position, and rightfully so, as she still leads the team with roughly 300 kills this Fall.
But, fellow senior Alison Figueroa is proving to be equally integral towards Clear Creek's overall success.
As the team's libero, Figueroa has already tallied 270 digs and counting, in addition to 452 receptions and 100 assists.
The combination of those two, along with Camdyn Cole (Jr. S), Laila Paulino (Sr. OH), and Sofia Dhanji (Jr. S), should be more than enough to propel the Wildcats to their 24th-straight postseason appearance.
Jerimiah Treadaway -- Dawson Football
Doug Brown (VYPE)
After falling to a formidable Bridgeland team in the season opener, the Eagles subsequently captured three hard-fought wins against FB Elkins (44-34), Dobie (51-36), and Pasadena Memorial (48-45), bringing their record to 3-1 (2-0 in district).
While their are numerous players who have provided significant contributions -- So. RB/DB Corey Brown among them -- in the team's recent surge, the focal point of coach Mike Allison's offense has unquestionably been Jerimiah Treadaway.
Entering Week 5, the senior has rushed for 546 yards and eight touchdowns which has been an exemplary way to follow in the footsteps of last year's District MVP Bryce Burgess.
Additionally, Treadaway plays on the defensive side of the ball in the linebacker spot, for which he received first-team, all-district honors a year ago.
Dawson will have some difficult competition in their upcoming schedule, with Shadow Creek and Pearland up next. But, if this start is any indication, Treadaway and company should be in prime position to make a playoff-return.
Muizz Tounkara -- Clear Springs Football
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Clear Springs (3-1) responded to their Week 1 defeat at the hands of Ridge Point by claiming three consecutive victories -- the most recent of which was a 43-13 trouncing of district opponent Clear Brook.
Their defense has been a vital asset, limiting the opposition to just 16 points on average since the opener, and that number is likely to drop even lower with some favorable competition (Clear Lake & Brazoswood) on the horizon.
But, the offensive side of the ball is likely where the Chargers will really flourish, beginning with the team's passing game.
The connection between seniors Julian Salazar (QB) and Muizz Tounkara (WR) should be one that propels the group to the next level, and will consequently make them a handful for defenses to stop.
Tounkara -- a recent Arizona-commit -- has a 6-foot-4 frame with exceptional explosiveness to match it.
While the three-star wideout was named a district second-teamer in 2023, the way he's been performing, as of late, could potentially lead to a first-team selection, if not District 24-6A Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Aniston Collins -- Lutheran South Academy Volleyball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
It's no secret that LSA is one of the state's premier private school programs, and that hasn't changed throughout the first half of the 2024 season.
The Pioneers are currently the No. 1 team in our updated rankings, boasting a record of 20-5, which shouldn't be news to anyone familiar with the TAPPS scene.
While most eyes are on Texas A&M-commit Kirra Musgrove, it's the complementary pieces that make this team so formidable.
Speaking of which, senior Aniston Collins has played a pivotal role in all facets of the game. Despite primarily being a setter, she has currently registered 360 assists, 117 digs, and over 100 kills.
She's able to work in any part of the six-rotation, making her an invaluable jack of all trades for Lutheran South.
The first step in returning to the TAPPS-5A State Championship will be their upcoming district schedule, so they won't set their sights too far just yet.
But if they keep clicking on all cylinders like this, it wouldn't come as a shock if they meet up with Prestonwood Christian again.
Kyden Barker -- Galveston Ball Football
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Throughout the first half of the Fall, the Tornadoes are playing like a championship-caliber roster.
Ball (4-0) has been toppling opponents left and right -- most notably with their dominant (54-26) season opener against 6A's Manvel.
Naturally, five-star DB/ATH and Texas-commit Jonah Williams will get the majority of the praise, and rightfully so.
Although, he isn't the only one playing clean, efficient football.
Galveston's junior signal-caller Kyden Barker has thrown for 12 TDs to just one interception through four weeks, is averaging just under 200 throwing yards per game, with an impressive QB rating of 124.7.
After locking in a 2023 first-team, all-district selection, Barker is on the path for a repeat, in addition to picking up more collegiate offers to match the ones he has from Texas State, UNT, Colorado State, and UNLV.
The real test for the Tors will be when they soon face Port Arthur Memorial (10/4) and Barbers Hill (10/25), but as it stands, we like their chances of another district title and more.